Goiti Yamauchi predicting just one thing: victory at Bellator 99

Goiti Yamauchi doesn’t want to make predictions, for the most part. It’s safer that way.

He will make one, though, and that’s that he’s going to win his Bellator MMA debut on Friday night. Just don’t ask Yamauchi (14-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) to predict if his 86 percent submission rate in his victories means he’ll be tapping out Musa Toliver (9-8-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 99.

“It’s better not to predict,” Yamauchi told MMAjunkie.com. “Anything could happen. I think it’s nearly impossible to guess how it’s going to end. But without a doubt, I’m winning. I don’t think much about (how). I am more concerned with victory, no matter how.”

Bellator 99 takes place at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif., with a main card on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com. Yamauchi fights Toliver on the Spike.com-streamed prelims, and both fighters are making their Bellator debuts.

Yamauchi, from Brazil, turned 20 in January and has been fighting since he was 17, already racking up 15 pro bouts. But he’s never fought outside his home country before.

With a chance to impress in Bellator on a much bigger stage, it would be easy for him to think about the larger picture and get caught up in things.

But that’s not his Yamauchi’s nature.

“I think being calm is one of my best qualities,” he said. “I was born this way. I’ll always be this way.”

It’s also not in his nature to be stressed out over the pressure of being 20 and being in the world’s No. 2 promotion, looking to make a big first impression.

Just the opposite – it motivates me even more,” Yamauchi said. “I’m bringing my best skills and I know I can put on a great fight with anyone in my weight class.”

For now, despite a past at lightweight, Yamauchi will be sticking with featherweight. That’s where Toliver waits for him tonight.

Thinking about anything but his opponent, he knows would be a mistake. That’s an MMA cliche, but for a 20-year-old fighter to have that down early likely is important.

“We’ve been able to formulate a strategy based on the few (Toliver) fights we’ve been able to watch,” he said. “I feel we’ll pull off this victory by imposing our game plan.

“I’ve never been so ready for a fight. Recently, a lot of people have been recognizing my work. I am very happy with that. And now I’ll be able to demonstrate my hard work in the cage.”

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